Toy



June 1,1948.

J. H. WRIGHT Filed Sept. 23, 1946 J. H. WRIGHT June l, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1946 J. H. WRIGHT June 1, 1948.

Toi

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4Filed Sept. 25, 1946 Patented June 1, 1948 LINEE` TOY John H. wright, Philadelphia, ra. Application September 23, 1946, Serial 190,698,239

(C1. ic-11) 2 Claims.

My invention relates to a toy adapted to be pulled apart to simulate falling down and to be reassembled for repeated use.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a toy for the education and amusement of a child; to supply a toy formed of parts which when pulled will fall apart for the surprise, delight and entertainment of a child; to create such a toy constructed of material that will withstand actual falling down and which can be reassembled for repeated use; to provide a toy which will teach and demonstrate story and action to a child; to create a toy that will satisfy the instin-cts of a child and instruct rehabilitation and reconstruction.

My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred form of my invention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my bridge built up; Fig. 2 a top plan view of same; Fig. 3 an enlarged detailed view of a pillar on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing falling parts in dotted lines; Fig. 4 a detailed sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 Fig. 5 a detailed sectional View through drawbridge and tower; Fig. 6 a top plan View of one pier; Fig. 7 a detailed sectional View on line 'I-'I of Fig. 8, with ends being pulled apart; Fig, 8 a side elevational view of bridge, showing falling parts in dotted lines; Fig, 9 a perspective view of fallen bridge.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a strip III of flexible material such as plastic sheeting or the like. ySaid strip is formed to simulate a river.

A pair of piers or bases il has bottoms 52 permanently attached to strip I0. Said bases II are spaced adjacent opposite sides of the strip I9.

The bases II each have curved guard walls I2 at opposite ends, extending above floor I3, in which are a plurality of recesses I4, with adjacent recesses spaced by ribs I5. The recesses I4 extend outwardly to and beyond guard walls I2 to communicate with grooves I6. Floor I3 has a central depressed portion II. Adjacent the inner ends of each of the guard walls I2 are dents I8.

For each of the bases II, a tower I9 is provided. Each tower is divided into two separable segments 20 with edge contact.

Each of the segments 20 of the towers I9 has a pair of legs 2| spaced by a curved opening 22. The bottoms of legs 2| iit within recesses I4, and adjacent the bottoms of legs 2| are pimples 23 positioned to engage dents I8,

Adjacent the upper portions of each of the segments 29 of towers I9 are inner and outer slots 24, each with a keyway 25 at and communicating with thev lower portion of the adjacent slot 24.

A center span 26 has a channel portion 2l on which appears the following legend, London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down, London bridge is falling down, my fair lady. Build it up with iron bars, iron bars, iron bars, Build it up with iron bars, my fair lady. Said span 26 also has opposite end portions to the undersurfaces of which are attached triangular keys 28 having points 59 pointing inwardly.

The ends of span 26 extend within inner slots 24 of towers I9 and keys 28 are positioned in keyways 25 adjacent said inner slots 24.

A pair of road approaches 29 have inner roadways 39 which rest on oors I3 of opposite bases II and extend through arches 3I of towers I 9. Said roadways 39 have at their inner ends slits 3 Each of said road approaches `29 has side cable spans 33 with a front top portion 34, to which is attached a wedge shaped member 35 having a point 36 pointing outwardly. These top portions 34 extend within outer slots 24 of towers I9 and wedges 35 engage keyways 25.

A pair of drawbridges 31 have curved side flanges 38 and on their outer end have tongues 39 which engage within slits 32. The ends 40 of anges 3-8 pivot within grooves I6.

In use, the above named parts are properly assembled as heretofore set forth. 'I'he child then grasps the outer ends of road approaches 29 and pulls outwardly thereon. This causes the draw bridges 31 to pivot upwardly on bases II. The wedges `35 being moved outwardly move the upper portions of the towers I9 outwardly and separate segments 20 of towers I9. This moves the upper portions of the towers I9 away from central span 26 so that keys 28 also act to separate segments 26 of towers I9. The result is that the segments 2U of the towers finally fall away from the bases II onto the strip I0. The central span also falls onto the strip. As the child lets go of the road approaches they and the drawbridges also fall into the simulated river. London bridge has then fallen down.

The aforesaid parts of my toy may be repeatedly assembled and separated by the falls for a childs amusement and instruction. My toy also reenacts for the child the legend of the nursery rhyme, London Bridge is Falling Down.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A falling bridge toy comprising a iiexible strip simulating a river, a pair of spaced bases attached to said strip, a pair of towers supported on said bases, said towers each divided into a pair oi contacting segments, said towers having inner and outer slots with keyways therebelow, a center span having triangular ends with inwardly pointing keys, said span mounted on said towers with its ends extending within the inner slots of said towers, and its keys in the adjacent key-` A ways of said towers, a pair of road approaches having roadways, side cable portions and top iront ends with outwardly pointing wedges, said roadways mounted on said bases, said front ends mounted on said towers and extending within the outer` slots of said towers with their wedges in piers, said towers divided into Segments, a central span mounted on said towers, a pair of road approaches mounted on said piers and said towers, and,` a pair of draw bridges mounted on said road approaches, said road approaches, upon -beingmoved outwardly, adapted to pull down said towers and center span onto said river strip.

JOHN H. WRIGHT. 

